What is the best internet provider in Phoenix?
Quantum Fiber is the best option for most Phoenix households, due to the fast, symmetrical speeds, free equipment rental and unlimited data. That said, Cox stands out for its availability, and Verizon 5G or other providers may also suit your needs.
Verizon 5G Home Internet is the cheapest option, offering a compelling promotional deal of $35 per month for up to 300 megabits per second download speed for qualifying Verizon mobile customers. Three providers — Cox, Quantum Fiber and Verizon 5G Home Internet — offer the fastest internet speeds in Phoenix, with gigabit speeds available to many homes.
CNET considers speeds, pricing, customer service and overall value to recommend the best internet service providers in Phoenix across several categories. Our evaluation includes referencing a proprietary database built over years of reviewing internet services. We validate that against provider information by spot-checking local addresses for service availability. We also do a close read of providers’ terms and conditions and, when needed, will call ISPs to verify the details.
Despite our efforts to find the most recent and accurate information, our process has some limitations you should know about. Pricing and speed data are variable: Certain addresses may qualify for different service tiers, and monthly costs may vary, even within a city. The best way to identify your options is to plug your address into a provider’s website.
Also, the prices, speed and other information listed above and in the provider cards below may differ from what we found in our research. The cards display the full range of a provider’s pricing and speed across the US, according to our database of plan information provided directly by ISPs. At the same time, the text is specific to what’s available in Phoenix. The prices referenced within this article’s text come from our research and include applicable discounts for setting up automatic payments each month — a standard industry offering. Discounts and promotions might also be available for signing a term contract or bundling multiple services.
To learn more about how we review internet providers, visit our full methodology page.
Best internet in Phoenix
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Our take – Many Phoenix locals may remember it as CenturyLink Fiber, but with the company’s rebranding under Lumen Technologies came a name change for the fiber-optic side of the business to Quantum Fiber.
200 – 8,000 Mbps
$30 – $165 per month
Cable, some fiber
25 – 2,000 Mbps
$40 – $100 per month
Our take – Cox is your go-to cable internet provider in Phoenix. You’ll have more plan options with Cox compared to CenturyLink, but, other than availability, that’s about the only advantage Cox has.
Cable, some fiber
25 – 2,000 Mbps
$40 – $100 per month
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Our take – Verizon 5G Home Internet is available to over 38% of households in Phoenix. It’s a decent deal, depending on the speeds you can get, but it’s potentially an even better deal for Verizon mobile customers. Currently, Verizon offers 5G Home at the discounted rate of $35 per month and 5G Home Plus at $45 to qualifying Verizon mobile customers.
Fixed wireless
85 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $70 per month
Phoenix internet providers compared
| Provider | Internet technology | Monthly price range | Speed range | Monthly equipment costs | Data cap | Contract | CNET review score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CenturyLink | DSL | $50 | 20-100Mbps | $15 (optional) | None | None | 6.7 |
| Cox Communications | Cable | $50-$110 | 100-1,000Mbps | $13 (optional) | 1.25TB | None | 6.2 |
| Quantum Fiber | Fiber | $50-$75 | 500-940Mbps | None | None | None | 6.7 |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50 ($30 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max mobile customers) | 72-245Mbps | None | None | None | 7.4 |
| Verizon 5G Home Internet | Fixed wireless | $50-$70 ($35-$45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans) | 50-1,000Mbps | None | None | None | 7.2 |
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
Other available internet providers in Phoenix
CenturyLink: Lumen Technologies’ DSL service is available to nearly every household in the Phoenix area not eligible for Quantum Fiber. Speeds are largely impressive for DSL service, ranging from 60, 80 or 100Mbps in many neighborhoods. As such, CenturyLink is a solid choice for a basic, low-hassle connection, but if you want faster speeds, you’ll have to turn to Cox or Verizon.
T-Mobile Home Internet: While Verizon’s 5G home internet network caters primarily to larger cities, such as Phoenix, T-Mobile focuses more on suburban and rural areas. At $50 per month for speeds ranging from 72 to 245Mbps, T-Mobile is an ideal choice for those living outside the city where satellite or DSL is the only connection available. However, if you’re within Phoenix, you’ll find faster speeds for roughly the same price from other providers.
Triad Wireless: Local fixed wireless provider Triad Wireless beams internet signals all over the Phoenix area for business, education and residential internet service. Max residential internet speeds can reach 300Mbps, which is impressive for a fixed wireless network. Since fixed wireless requires a direct line of sight to a nearby transmitter, you’ll need to have a serviceability check before being able to sign up. Call 602-426-0542 or visit the Triad Wireless residential internet page to inquire about serviceability and pricing at your address.
Satellite internet: HughesNet and Viasat are always options for home internet, so long as you have a clear view of the southern sky. But satellite is often a last resort for internet, and with Cox, CenturyLink, 5G internet and other choices in Phoenix, the high pricing, high latency and low data allowances of satellite internet are easy to pass on.
Cheap internet options in Phoenix
For a cheap, basic internet connection in Phoenix, consider Verizon 5G Home Internet or T-Mobile Home Internet — both plans start at $50 per month. Plus, if you’re a Verizon or a T-Mobile mobile customer, you’ll also want to see if you can get a discounted rate of $30-$35 per month.
Most of the providers we’ve mentioned also participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which gives eligible low-income households a $30 monthly discount (or up to $75 for households on tribal lands) for high-speed internet. You can use the ACP toward any internet plan — not just the cheapest ones — from participating providers.
What’s the cheapest internet plan in Phoenix?
Show more (1 item)
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
How to find internet deals and promotions in Phoenix
The best internet deals and top promotions in Phoenix depend on the discounts available during that period. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.
Phoenix internet providers, such as Cox Communications, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, however, including Quantum Fiber, Verizon and T-Mobile, run the same standard pricing year-round.
For a more extensive list of promotions, check out our guide on the best internet deals.
Photo by Getty Images
How fast is Phoenix broadband?
Speed test averages indicate that home internet in Phoenix is slower than the rest of Arizona and below the national average. Don’t let that discourage you; faster max speeds, up to 940Mbps, are available throughout much of the Phoenix area.
Multi-gig speeds are sparse in Phoenix, so Cox’s 2,000Mbps plan is the fastest in the area. However, due to availability, most residents will be limited to a single gig of speed from Quantum Fiber, Cox or Verizon 5G. While perhaps not as exciting as multi-gig service, that’s still plenty of speed for a virtually unlimited number of connected devices.
Fastest internet plans in Phoenix
| Provider | Starting price | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Data cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox 1 Gig | $110 | 1,000Mbps | 35Mbps | Cable |
| Verizon 5G Home Plus | $70 ($45 with eligible mobile plans) | 1,000Mbps | 75Mbps | None |
| Quantum Fiber Gig | $70 | 940Mbps | 940Mbps | Fiber |
Source: CNET analysis of provider data.
What’s a good internet speed?
Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the FCC. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.
For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.
- 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email, streaming low-quality video.
- 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and videoconferencing.
- 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming.
- 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like videoconferencing, streaming and online gaming.
- 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.
How CNET chose the best internet providers in Phoenix
Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every internet service provider in a given city. So what’s our approach? For starters, we tap into a proprietary database of pricing, availability and speed information that draws from our own historical ISP data, partner data and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t end there. We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.
Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:
- Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
- Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
- Are customers happy with their service?
While the answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, though we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports.
To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.
What’s the final word on internet providers in Phoenix?
Quantum Fiber, Cox and Verizon 5G Home Internet are likely your best internet options in terms of speed and overall value. Quantum Fiber would be my first recommendation due to a fiber connection’s reliability and symmetrical download/upload speed capabilities, not to mention its favorable service terms. Cox is also a solid choice for cable internet, especially if you plan to bundle internet and TV, but pricing is a bit high compared to other providers, and you’ll have to deal with contracts and a data cap. As for Verizon 5G Home Internet, the value comes down to what speeds are available at your address, but the service is worth checking out if you’re looking for an alternative to CenturyLink or Cox.
Internet providers in Phoenix FAQs
Which is the cheapest internet provider in Phoenix?
There are several ways to get low-cost internet in Phoenix. With eligible phone plans, T-Mobile or Verizon mobile customers can get deep discounts on 5G home internet service: $35 per month for Verizon 5G Home and $30 monthly for T-Mobile Home Internet. Eligible low-income households can qualify for federal Affordable Connectivity Program assistance, which may make your internet cost-free.
Which internet provider in Phoenix offers the fastest plan?
Cox offers the fastest plan in Phoenix, costing $110 monthly for up to 1,000Mbps. Quantum Fiber and Verizon also offer gigabit plans, and Quantum Fiber taking the gold with its symmetrical speeds.
Does Phoenix have fiber internet?
Yes. Approximately 24% of Phoenix households are eligible for fiber service. The largest fiber provider in the Phoenix area is Quantum Fiber. Cox also has a small fiber presence in Phoenix.
What is the best internet connection type for Phoenix?
A fiber-optic connection is the gold standard. That said, fiber availability may be limited to a small percentage of households in the area. Otherwise, a cable internet connection is your best bet. Cable internet can’t match fiber’s speed or reliability, but it’s far more accessible and available to most households in Phoenix.
Is CenturyLink or Cox better?
In Phoenix, Cox offers more plan options than CenturyLink and greater high-speed coverage with gig service available throughout the city. However, plans from Quantum Fiber, formerly known as CenturyLink Fiber, will likely come with significantly faster upload speeds and a lower cost per Mbps than comparable Cox plans. For a more in-depth comparison of the two providers, read our breakdown of CenturyLink versus Cox.
Is Xfinity available in Phoenix?
No. Cox Communications is the primary cable internet provider in the Phoenix area. Other major cable internet providers, including Xfinity, do not offer service in Phoenix.
